Chinese ministry orders transparency in college student enrollment

BEIJING, July 27 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has urged more transparency in college student enrollment in its affiliated universities.

Universities are ordered to release more information about enrollment policies, students' credentials, enrollment results, and complaint channels, according to a circular issued by the ministry.

China's annual college entrance exam, held on June 7 and 8, attracted about 9.4 million participants this year. Enrollment is currently under way, and new college students are expected to enter colleges in September.

A scandal involving a corrupt admission official that was exposed this spring cast doubt on transparency and fairness in college admissions.

Cai Rongsheng, former head of admissions at Beijing's Renmin University of China, was arrested in May on charges of receiving huge bribes. He was accused of taking over 10 million yuan (1.62 million U.S. dollars) to "help" students during enrollment.

In the circular, the ministry banned universities from favoritism, fraud and unlawful charges, among other irregularities.

The ministry also vowed to severely punish people involved in malpractice.

There are seven universities affiliated with the ministry: Beihang University, Beijing Institute of Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Harbin Engineering University, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and Nanjing University of Science and Technology.